The Cowichan Tribes are calling for immediate federal intervention to address a massive accumulation of construction waste and garbage that poses a serious threat to the Cowichan River. The growing waste pile contains toxic chemicals that could leach into the vital waterway, creating an environmental emergency on reserve lands.
Mounting Environmental Crisis
The garbage pile spans three lots on Cowichan Tribes reserve land near the Allenby Road Bridge over the Cowichan River. Recent environmental reports reveal the 290,000 cubic metres of waste contain elevated concentrations of copper, zinc, and other dangerous substances. These include heavy metals such as arsenic, cadmium, iron, lead, and manganese, all classified as "substances of concern" by environmental authorities.
In a statement released on Monday, the First Nation emphasized that "the tools to combat the pollution of reserve lands are primarily under federal jurisdiction, including the Indian Act and the Indian Reserve Waste Disposal Regulations." However, the nation expressed frustration that "the government of Canada is reluctant to prosecute polluters."
Provincial Orders and Federal Inaction
The provincial Environment Ministry has taken action by ordering James Anthony Peter, who lives on one of the lots and controls access to all three properties, to submit a comprehensive cleanup plan by November 17. The ministry mandate requires Peter to immediately stop collecting waste and hire qualified professionals to develop a site pollution-prevention and remediation plan.
Despite these provincial measures, Cowichan Tribes maintains that ultimate responsibility lies with the federal government. The nation has been attempting to address illegal dumping activities since 2010, repeatedly issuing cease-and-desist letters to offenders. "The authority for enforcement and remediation of these parcels of land where the dumping has occurred has always been under Canada and the Indian Act," stated the Tribes.
Longstanding Battle Against Illegal Dumping
Cowichan Tribes has expressed being "deeply concerned" about the persistent illegal dumping of garbage, construction materials, industrial waste, and contaminated substances on their reserve lands. The First Nation has cooperated with the province's investigation of the dump site since 2021 while simultaneously pushing Ottawa to "fulfil its long overdue responsibility to take action to address the site."
Indigenous Services Canada has previously acknowledged the situation, confirming they have issued two cease-and-desist orders related to the problematic site. However, Cowichan Tribes argues there are "significant limitations" to what they can accomplish without proper enforcement support from federal authorities.
The First Nation is now intensifying its demands for the federal government to step in immediately, ensure complete cleanup of the contaminated site, and prosecute those responsible for creating the environmental hazard that threatens the ecological health of the Cowichan River.
